The Stylistics – Rockin' Roll Baby

Album Revolution #3:

Two years in a row, "The Stylistics" (along with "Thom Bell") had true success based on the groups first two albums ("Self Titled" and "Round 2")....But in those days (being the '70's), you could not rest on your loreals...Why? Well, by this time, the "Soul & R&B" market was FLOURIOSHING, and you had to come with it or be left behind!!!!!

With that "The Stylistics" and "Thom Bell" headed back to the studio to Record " Rockin' Roll Baby".....I have to be honest here, even though I included this in the groups Album Revolution, this album has NOTHING on the first 2.... I have a theory about that, which I will reveal at the end of this review...

The album starts with the "Thom Bell" and "Linda Creed" composition, "Only For The Children"....It's not bad, in fact it's really good....Only thing is that it feels kind of flat compared to joints brought to us from the groups first 2 albums...I have a theory about this as well that I will hold off toward the ending....

Now the 1st Crown Jewel, "Could This Be The End", brings about what we expect from "The Stylistics"....Written by "Bruce Hawes", "Charles Simmons", "Joseph B. Jefferson", this joint has "Russell Thompkins, Jr." sounding FLAWLESS....The only push back I have is that you have extra Background Vocalist in "Barbara Ingram", "Carla Benson", "Evette Benton" and "Ms. Linda Creed" herself....Again, something that we were not used to on a "Stylistics" Record....Usually, the Fellas FLAWLESS Background would put a NAIL on something like this...Again I have a theory on that later...

The next "Bell-Creed" composition. "Let Them Work It Out", keeps the album on track...This Crown Jewel sounds Classic "Stylistics", including having the group actually on Background Vocals, on a PERFECT "Thom Bell Production" Melody....It was truly what this album NEEDED!!!!!

"Make It Last" continues to have "The Stylistics" sound PERFECT on a "Thom Bell Production" Melody....Another Crown Jewel, "Russell" continues to cement himself as a TRUE PURE Vocalist, while having his "Stylistic" Brothers giving that support...

"Pay Back Is A Dog" though....THE BOMB!!!!!!!!!

Producing Genius "Kenny Gamble" helps "Thom Bell" to REALLY craft a MASTERPIECE for the group....Not only do we MARVEL over those "Thom Bell" Melodies when it comes to "The Stylistics", we also TRIP OUT on the Lyrics!!!!! To have "Russell" spell out, "One Day You Will Know Just How It Feels, Pay Back Is A Dog"!!!!!, with the Fellas SUPPORTING him saying, "Dog, Is A Dog", PRICELESS!!!!! My only grip, I wish that this Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel was LONGER (maybe about 7 minutes....I know, I know) !!!!!!

"Love Comes Easy" has the group to continue to give life to another "Bell-Creed" Crown Jewel...Again, the group sounds FLAWLESS, and at times it becomes truly UNFAIR!!!!! I also LOVE the Musical changes, again outlining "THAT Thom Bell Production!!!!!

"There's No Reason" (Written By "Bruce Hawes" and "Joseph B. Jefferson") sounds great, and it is a Crown Jewel....Again though, the push back is the extra Background Vocals, which will go into my theory....I know, I know, you Guys are probably saying, "OK Isaac!!!!! Get to THAT So Called Theory"!!!!!!! Please be patient, I promise I will get to it.....

Ok...Now I know that you Guys are going to BUTCHER me for this one, but the "Title Track" is one of my LEAST favorite songs by "The Stylistics"....The story is cool, but the Production, well its not terrible, but I'm just not felling it!!!!! Maybe if "Thom Bell" would have done this one with someone else, maybe....Sorry, but I usually skip this one!!!!!!

Now, "You Make Me Feel Brand New".....

Now this ULTIMATE, ULTIMATE, ULTIMATE BOMB Crown Jewel is "The Stylistics'!!!!!!!! This is the kind of song that BELONGS to the group...This PURE MASTERPIECE, is the BEST SONG on here, HANDS DOWN!!!!!! What really takes this song over the TOP is having "Airrion Love" sharing Lead Vocal duties with "Russell Thompkins, Jr.".....It was a BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!!!!!

"I Won't Give You Up" ("Bruce Hawes", "Charles Simmons" and "Joseph B. Jefferson"), is good, but it feels like an odd way to end this album....It also has those extra Background Vocals....It also sounds like that, at times, "Russell" sounds very disinterested, not even being at the ending of this song....

Ok, it is time for my theory....

Around the same time in working on this album, "Thom Bell" started working with the ONE and ONLY "Spinners"!!!!! If you listen to "Could This Be The End", "There's No Reason", and especially "I Won't Give You Up", they sound like "Spinner" leftovers....Now, that may sound a little crude to some of you, but think about it...."The Spinners" sounds at times had that "Ingram, Benson, Benton, Creed" Background...Even the Melodies from the songs I just mentioned had that "Spinner" touch.....

I can't prove it, and its just speculation, but I have a feeling that didn't go over well with "The Stylistics"....With that, this would be the last album that "Thom Bell" worked with the group...I REALLY am sad how that turned out!!!!! Why? Because, even though "The Stylistics" were able to survive for years to come, IT WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME!!!!

I know some of you might think I am being quite harsh, and being EXTREMELY partial to "Thom Bell"....I don't mean to be, but at the same time, I did say that "Bell" is my FAVORITE ALLTIME Producer....If those speculations are true, I'm not even saying that "Bell" was completely right in the matter...I do wished that things could have been talked over and worked out, but it wasn't...

Well, that almost completes my journey with "The Stylistics"...I will review their next album though.....

There is no marking this for 1974 - only 1973.

Fantastic album with an impressive contributor’s list; Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff.